Which incredible albums had lackluster pre-release singles?

[lilmonster2424 1,736]

3 hours ago, high culture said:

Crash by Charli XCX

Omg yes, Good Ones was amazing and great for a single/even a lead single, but releasing New Shapes, Baby, and Beg For You (as the official second single) was a disgrace to the album. Literally the worst tracks in my opinion. I think instead of those three they should have released Used To Know Me, Yuck, and Constant Repeat and/or Lightning 

[Born This Way 1,815]

Definitely Happier Than Ever but the singles sound a lot better to me on the album. 

[Dojo 19,372]

don't start now tbh

[NichuuB 43,788]

Born this way

[Meredith Grey 3,161]

Lover by Taylor Swift. I get the singles were released more to be a statement than to top the charts but there are 2 songs on that album that are skips and for some reason BOTH are singles. While some of her best pop songs are on that album

[StrawberryBlond 14,910]

I know it's unpopular, but I think BTW as a single is just ok, it had so much hype that it turned out to be lacklustre but the album as a whole is my favourite of hers and that song is probably the only weak spot. I also think Ain't No Other Man by Xtina was just ok but Back To Basics as a whole was one of her best. And it just felt like Lana was retreading old ground when she put out Let Me Love You Like A Woman, it seemed so paint-by-numbers for her, yet the Chemtrails album is one of my favourites, even if the rest of the fanbase underrates it.

I think a lot of artists put out a lacklustre lead single because the lead is meant to be the one that appeals to the public the most to launch the campaign, so it makes sense that they tend to be very basic, pedestrian, not experimental. That kinda stuff is saved for album tracks for the fans.

[monstertoronto 10,381]

7 hours ago, Lucas said:

Joanne! Minus Million Reasons which is amazing.

Perfect Illusion sounds absolutely incredible in the middle of the album but very meh on its own. And A-YO is easily one of my least favorite Gaga songs

I can not stand A-Yo. It is the cringiest song Gaga has ever made in my opinion but she loved it so much I felt bad I didn’t like it. 

[gypsy101 5,453]

8 hours ago, high culture said:

Crash by Charli XCX

i personally love new shapes but other than that the other singles i’ve been meh on. my top tracks on the album are move me, lightning, constant repeat, every rule and yuck. and none are singles??? wtf

[AURAOFSHEISSE 6,516]

Motomami

Kick iiii

CRASH

[Taylucifer 5,164]

reputation and lover

I think the singles for Solar Power also could have been stronger 

[TAIPEI 2,528]

oops perfect illusion comes first in my mind 

[Wet Fire 7,760]

9 hours ago, Chromatography said:

perfect illusion is the best song on joanne and has aged like a fine wine

Thank you, yes! It's a standout banger in her career. In spite of the underperformance, I'm so proud of Gaga for releasing it as the lead. It was a bold move on her part to choose a sound almost alien in her singles discography that far in her career. A real visionary Gaga is! 

P.S. the song was released one day prior to my college semester exam and it got me so obsessed that I couldn't concentrate on my studies and almost failed a paper 

[Clayton 780]

8 hours ago, Meredith Grey said:

Lover by Taylor Swift. I get the singles were released more to be a statement than to top the charts but there are 2 songs on that album that are skips and for some reason BOTH are singles. While some of her best pop songs are on that album

the way I HATED Me! and You Need To Calm Down when they were out...and then the album came and I absolutely loved it. Not a big fan of the title track, either. I don't get why they pushed certain songs instead of others

[Pop Music 20,540]

E.MO.TION 

the album is flawless but I Really Like You is not one of the highlights from the album (nearly every other song is perfection) 

[dimitristhe 1,562]

Madonna - MDNA

MDNA is definitely her worst album alongside Hard Candy, but Hard Candy was promoted with amazing singles. GMAYL is Madonna’s worst lead single and one of her worst songs in general. Gang Bang, I’m Addicted and Masterpiece were better singles choices than GMAYL and TUTR. Girl Gone Wild was a good choice but wasn’t promoted at all, she should have performed it at the Super Bowl.

Lady Gaga - Chromatica 

Rain On Me was the perfect lead single for the album, but instead Stupid Love was released, the weakest track on Chromatica. 
911 was a bold move but it’s not commercially appealing. Replay, Sour Candy and Babylon deserved single treatment more than the already released singles.

Mariah Carey - Caution

Caution, Stay Long Love You, Giving Me Life and 8th Grade were born to be hits, but Mimi thought GTFO and With You are better choices. Bad moves in my opinion. 

Mariah Carey - E=MC2

Migrate, I’m That Chick, O.O.C. and Last Kiss don’t being released as singles are a criminal act and Mimi should be in jail. Bye Bye was the worst choice for a second single and even though Touch My Body was a #1 hit it killed the momentum. Touch My Body is her weakest lead single and was so successful because it was released after TEOM’s slayage.